Thanks Ollie. I have four cases filed so far based on their sightings, will see what will come of that, I've only uploaded 45 images so far. You are right about having to be careful not to file a case where there was a legit sale. So I am not in hurry, doing lots of research on the found images. One was easy the infringer put their own copyright on the image. I'll give it some time, continue my subscription and then I will post an update if recoveries are good might even recommend them. If not will be looking at Pixsy and others.
Helen

That's disappointing, had high hopes.
I'm starting to feel I might be lucky to break even after a year, orworse could end up in a negative balance. Was busy last night uploading more images. Sightings are almost immediate but there are just pages and pages to go through and most are unpursuable. I'll try it for a while see how it goes.
Thanks both for your input.
Helen

Never heard of Copytrack before; just checked them out. Thanks for that, thanks very much for that!
I don't have a Facebook account so might not be able to see what's posted in that group. Not on any social media/network sites, just anti-social I suppose I know I don't have the greatest social skills either, just pretend I do

Thanks losdemas, I suspected as much. I saw your post and the thread you'd started. So they probably have more luck with US/North America infringers, I can forget about Asia, Africa, South America. Not 'worldwide' reach then, would have been too good to be true.
Helen

Would any experienced or keen infringements chasers be able to answer this one. Just how much reach do ImageRights have chasing infringements? I mean, do they have more success chasing US, UK, North America, Europe for example and give up on everyone else, or what. I ask because I have subscribed for a monthly fee, so very new to all this; have only uploaded a few images so far, will upload more. Several 'sightings' for certain images in particular, but there are just loads fr sites that they have labeled as either Unable to Pursue or Outside of Recovery Area, which is fine I understand about the social media sites, bloggers and so on. It just seems a bit difficult to accept though that sites like Alibaba can get away with selling products using Alamy watermarked images and just get away with it; they are similar to eBay I believe and have various trading companies selling via their site, so one would have to chase the trader. Actually, anyone ever find their image on Alibaba what if anything did you do about it? There is also this eBayer I'd like to file a case against. This is one Alamy abandoned for not being able to contact or get a response from the seller, alamy said I could chase it myself; selling signs and banners, every image he/she /they are selling has been ripped off someone, I am almost sure. I think I recognized some Alamy images on there so you might want to have a look here in case one of yours is on there: https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/thesignstore?rt=nc
Thanks in advance for any responses or helpful tips.
Helen

Okay, so not just late to the party, but the party might be over. Played with the header/banner until the page refused to update it and just left it blank, so I think I'll leave what I have there ffor now. Wish it were possible to move categories tabs around to change places or change their order. Not quite happy with what I've done with mine but would have to delete an entire category and start over just to have the tab where I want it to be. This so far https://www.alamy.com/portfolio/helensessions
Helen

Better than last month for number of sales only though. 29 for $479. While some were talking about a sales surge last month, I had a pretty decent refunds surge to start things off. On the plus side zooms slightly up as is CTR and I sold my first Alamy Print ever, Framed to the US. Pleased about that, hope there may be more in the future.
Helen

CUCs. As soon as you can, get some loose change in CUCs. You might want to tip the 'Cigar Ladies', I mean the models in Havana if you want a picture of them, and there will be other characters that might approach you asking if you would like to take a photo of them for a fee of course; even in Vinales. I mean you might not have to tip at all, depends on your cameras, what and who you point them at and how much attention they draw. Other than that have no more advice, was only in Cuba shooting for two days in December, best weather they had then as well.
Helen

Just last month I predicted a not too bright future on account of almost non-existent zooms. And so, this month sad, quite sad, 15 for $494.00. Almost feel like it is some kind of punishment for getting a nice cleared balance to be deposited this month. November has started off with 2 already, hoping it will be a better month, even though zooms are still quite pathetic.

Not sure if this answers your question exactly vpics; I don't have experience with light tents but have and do shoot products (cut outs). This is a set up I used for years with not bad results. A box made of five sheets of poster board, I used duct tape on the outside seams to put it together. The front side facing me is open and the top has a square hole cut out, not too small or you could leave the top board off completely and use a strobe/soft box over it. I liked working with continuous lighting so I used some white gift bag tissue paper to cover the smaller hole on top and put a light (floor lamp) above it or you could use a desk lamp, the wider the shade diameter the better. Light is distributed very evenly within the box. Might not be the thing for you it all depends on the size of the product/s you would be shooting. In all the years I used this setup I never felt I should go out and buy a light tent, and I did not think that it would give better results, for me personally anyway. Size of your product/s matters, I wouldn't put anything large in it but smaller stuff turns out great, with a bit of post processing in Photoshop of course; to clean up the background. Cheap setup as well.
Helen

So I am back with an update. I now have the A7III with a Tamron 28-75mm f2.8. I just got very lucky to get either or both we have a shortage here in Canada. I decided on the Tamron for better low light shooting, and it has not disapointed. I decided to go with the A7III because as some have said Sony has been at it longer than Nikon; not disrespecting Nikon in anyway but as hard as they try I am sure there will be something that might need to be fixed/improved as this is their first attempt, so did not want to risk it. Also did not want to use adapters and use the same big heavy lenses I have on a small body.
wim, they didn't have any pink ones!
Took some test shots in good light and very low light, just blown away; so happy with IQ just want to point it at everything and shoot anything all the time, just incredible. There is a second lens I'll be adding but will report back later on that, when I actually have it. Also at some point further along in the future I will be looking at adding a second body (maybe), another small one APSC sensor, to get the most out of the lenses I'll have. I say maybe because for the first time I feel kind of freed from all that kit. Sometimes more is not better, I was so tangled up in cameras and lenses, that I think it was just stifling any creativity I had. Was too busy trying to decide which body lens combo to grab for a shot while enviously looking at tourists who were getting all the shots with their mobile phones and tiny point and shoots, and for a split second would think I bet he or she is going to get a better comp and shot of that, than I will. I started to feel ridiculous with all that gear.
Thanks everyone who contributed to this thread, I hope to be shooting a lot more and better now.
Helen